Folding door apparatus

ABSTRACT

Folding door apparatus including at least four foldable panels hinged together in accordion fashion for vertical movement relative to the opening of a structure such as a garage; each pair of door panels have roller mountings disposed in vertically arranged trackways on each side of the opening.

United States Patent Inventor John C. Young, deceased late of Harrisburg, Pa. by Pamela A. Young, executrix Appl. No. 883,208 Filed Dec. 8, 1969 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 Assignee Compact Closuresflnc.

Harrisburg, Pa.

FOLDING DOOR APPARATUS 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 160/ 189, 160/207 Int. Cl E051 11/54 Field of Search 160/35, 36,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,683 10/1953 McKee et a1 160/209 X 3,280,888 10/1966 Davis 160/189 X FOREIGN PATENTS 176,557 9/1955 Switzerland [60/207 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Anorney-Anthony A. OBrien ABSTRACT: Folding door apparatus including at least four foldable panels hinged together in accordion fashion for vertical movement relative to the opening of a structure such as a garage; each pair of door panels have roller mountings disposed in vertically arranged trackways on each side of the opening.

1 FOLDING DOOR APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to folding door apparatus in which a plurality of door panels are movable between an extended position and a stacked position relative to the opening in a building structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is exemplified by my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,344,837 and 3,378,059 which illustrate various techniques for raising and lowering foldable door panels along vertical trackways. While such patents relate to the broad concept of having adjacent panels connected to each other along horizontal edges for an accordion-type operation, the arrangements are substantially complicated, are expensive to manufacture, and require special hinging arrangements to withstand the forces associated with panel movement between extended and stacked positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to simplify the structure and operation of folding door apparatus moveable between extended and stacked positions.

The present invention is summarized in folding door apparatus including a pair of spaced, vertically disposed trackways, a plurality of panels adapted for folding vertical movement along the trackway, horizontal hinges connecting the panels together in accordion fashion, a plate on each side of upper and lower pairs of panels adjacent the upper edges thereof, a pair of space rollers on each plate cooperating with trackways for guiding movement therealong, and a mounting bracket for one of each pair of rollers including a slidable and pivotal connection between the bracket and its corresponding 7 plate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a roller bracket with a pair of noncoincident slots for receiving spaced pivot axles.

This invention has another object in that vertically disposed trackways for plural folding door rollers include three separate channels for separate roller operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the inside of a structure having an opening with a closure embodying the present inventron;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of one side of the folding door apparatus of H6. 1 but showing the door panels in an extended position;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the door panels in a partially folded position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a detail of the roller mounting plate of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 5 but showing one roller in a different operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is embodied in a folding door assembly for use in the door opening of a building 10, such as a garage door opening. The opening is defined by a horizontal cross bar or lintel l2 and a pair of spaced vertical uprights 14 and 16 extending therefrom. Each of the vertical uprights l4 and 16 is provided with molding trim 18 holding weather stripping 20 to weather seal the vertically disposed side edges of the door assembly.

While the folding door assembly of the present invention may be operated manually, it is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 as being automatically operated by means of an electric motor 22 for winding up a cable 24 which is wound on a sheave 26. The electric motor and sheave 26 are enclosed in a housing which is mounted on the lintel 12 as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cable 24 is utilized to cause opening and closing of the folding door assembly which includes a plurality of panels arranged in pairs and hingedly connected to each other in accordion-fashion. An upper or top panel 30 is connected to a second panel 32 by means of a horizontal hinge 33 along adjacent edges to form the first pair of panels. The next pair of panels includes a third panel 34 and a fourth panel 36 hingedly connected along adjacent edges by a horizontal hinge 37. The adjacent edges of the second panel 32 and the third panel 34 are hingedly connected by a horizontal hinge 38. The fourth panel 36 may likewise be attached to a third pair of panels (not shown) whenever additional panels are utilized; however, when only four panels are used as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower horizontal edge of the fourth panel 36 is provided with a. bumper seal 40 made of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, to engage the floor surface of the building structure 10. The lowermost of the fourth panel 36 has a L-shaped plate 42 fixed to each vertical edge. The end of the cable 24 is secured to the top of the plate 42 on that side which the electric motor 22 is also disposed. The lower portion of each plate 42 is provided with a roller for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Adjacent the top edge of the third panel 34, an L-shaped mounting plate 46 is fixed to each vertical edge of the panel 34. As is apparent in FIGS. 3 and 4, the uppermost portion of the plate 46 is tapered to define a sloping surface 48, which partially overlies the lower edge of the second panel 32. Intermediate the sloping surface a roller 50 is attached to the plate 46. Adjacent its lower edge, a second roller 52, is attached to the plate 46, by means of a pivotally and slidably mounted bracket 54. The bracket 54 has a somewhat triangular configuration with the roller 52 rotatably supported at one point of the triangle. An elongated slot 56 extends from a second point of the triangular bracket 54 in a direction defined generally by a perpendicular extending from the central portion of a line extending from the other two triangular points. The slot 56 receives an axle 58 fixed to the plate 46. A second elongated slot 60 extends from the third triangular point in a direction generally towards the second triangular point, but terminates half way therebetween; the direction of the slot 60 is such that intersects the slot 56 at an acute angle, such as a 30 angle. A second axle 62 is fixed to the plate 46 and is received in the slot 60. A coil spring 64 is mounted in tension between the end of slot 60 and the axle of the roller 50.

An upper mounting plate 146 is identical to the structure described above in connection with the mounting plate 46; accordingly, a description of such structure is being omitted for the sake of brevity, but identical parts are being illustrated by the same reference numerals with 100 added.

As is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed axles 58 and 62 are disposed along a common longitudinal axis of the plate 46, which axis also intersects the mounting axle for the upper roller 50. It is to be recognized that the mounting plates 42, 46, and 146 are located on each vertical edge of the folding door assembly in order to stabilize the assembly during move ment. Similarly, each of the vertical uprights l4 and I6 is provided with a trackway 70 and only the right-hand trackway (as viewed in FIG. 1) is being described in detail. For example, each trackway 70 has a vertically disposed flange 72 securely fastened to the vertical upright 14 by any suitable means, such as bolts 74. Adjacent its top edge, the trackway 70 is provided with a plurality of stacking studs in accordance with the number of mounting plates 46 utilized; in this instance two stacking studs are used, with stud 76 for the lower plate and stud 78 for the upper plate 146 (see FIG. 3). Each trackway 70 has a vertical channel 80 extending the entire length of the upright 14 disposed adjacent the inner wall thereof. an outer channel 82 and an intermediate channel 84.

FIG. 3, illustrates the relative positions of the door panels when the assembly is in its closed position. In operation, the folding panel assembly is raised from its extended position, as shown in FIG. 3, to its stacked position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by any suitable switch means (not shown) to energize the electric motor 22. The cable 24 is then retracted causing upward movement of the assembly by the upward force exerted on the lower plate 42. During initial movement of the door as sembly, the upper roller 150 on the plate 146 (as well as the rollers 50 on plate 46 and roller 44 on plate 42) travel substantially vertically in the channel 80. After such initial vertical movement of the upper roller 150, further vertical movement is accomplished by the combined sliding and pivoting movement of the bracket 154 as the lower roller 52 moves in the channel 84. The sloping surface 148 clears the stud 78, the roller 152 further slides and pivots in the channel 84 causing folding of the panels 30 and 32 about their hinge 33. As is shown in FIG. 3 (and correlated in FIG. the lower roller 152 does not cause movement of the bracket 154 until there is engagement with the left side (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the channel 84. Thus, the sloping edge 148 is moved past the stud 78 until the bracket 146 is moved to a position generally shown by bracket 46 and stud 76 in FIG. 4. As the upper plate 146 approaches its uppermost position (FIG. 3) the sloping surface 148 is brought into engagement with the upper stacking stud 78; after such engagement, the sloping surface 148 and stud 78 effects a camming action to facilitate the outward or leftward movement (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the upper door panel 30. Upon completion of the upward movement of panel the stacking stud 78 partially supports the weight of the upper pair of panels 30 and 32. During such upward movement of the door assembly, the lower roller 152 of the bracket 146 follows the intermediate trackway 84 so that during such movement the roller 152 has a combined sliding and pivoting movement about its own axes 158 and 162.

FIG. 4 represents the relative positions of the door assembly as the sloping surface 48 of the bracket 46 engages the second stacking stud 76. Accordingly, continued upward movement of the door assembly by the electric motor 22 causes the roller 52 to be pivoted during its sliding movement in the outermost channel 82.

The utilization of the pivotable, slidable bracket 54 in combination with the three channels 80, 82 and 84 has the particular advantage of raising the door assembly from its extended position to its stacked position without placing undue stress on the door operating mechanism.

In as much as the present invention is subject to many changes in detail, variations and modifications, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or as shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Folding door apparatus comprising a pair of spaced, vertically disposed trackways,

each trackway including a plurality of guide channels,

a plurality of panels adapted for folding vertical movement along said trackways,

horizontal hinge means connecting said plurality of panels together in accordion fashion with first and third panels hinged at their lower edges to upper edges of second and fourth panels, respectively, and with the second panel hinged at its lower edge to the third panel at its upper edge,

fixed plate means on each side of said first and third panels adjacent the upper edge thereof,

a pair of spaced rollers for each fixed plate means with one of said rollers cooperating with one of said guide channels and with another of said rollers cooperating with another of said guide channels for guiding movement therealong,

one of said rollers being secured to an upper portion of its fixed plate means,

a mounting bracket carried by a lower portion of each fixed plate means,

the other of said rollers being secured to said mounting bracket, and I a slldable and pivotal connection between said mounting bracket and its fixed plate means.

2. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said slidable and pivotal connection includes slot means in said bracket and axle means fixed to its plate means and being received in said slot means.

3. Folding door apparatus comprising a pair of spaced, vertically disposed trackways,

a plurality of panels adapted for folding vertical movement along said trackways,

horizontal hinge means connecting said plurality of panels together in accordion fashion with first and third panels hinged at their lower edges to upper edges of second and fourth panels, respectively, and with the second panel hinged at its lower edge to the third panel at its upper edge,

plate means on each side of said first and third panels adjacent the upper edge thereof,

a pair of spaced rollers on each plate means cooperating with said trackways for guiding movement therealong,

a mounting bracket for one of said pair of spaced rollers,

a slidable and pivotal connection between said bracket and its plate means,

said slidable and pivotal connection including slot means in said bracket and axle means fixed to its plate means and being received in said slot means, and

said slot means including a pair of spaced slots and said axle means including a pair of spaced axles, one for each slot. 4. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein one of said slots is disposed at an acute angular relation to the other of said slots.

5. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said spaced axles are disposed along a common longitudinal axis defined by a longitudinal axis of their corresponding plate means.

6. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate means includes a plate element fixed to said first and third panels and having a sloping portion projecting beyond the upper edges thereof,

and wherein each of said trackways includes a pair of spaced studs, one of said studs being engaged by the sloping portion of the plate element on said first panel and the other of said studs being engaged by the sloping portion of the plate element on said second panel. 7. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the other of said pair of spaced rollers has an axle fixed to said plate element and wherein said axle and said pair of spaced axles are located on a common axis of said plate element with said common axis intersecting each of said axles.

8. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said trackways includes a first channel engageable by the other of said pair of spaced rollers,

a second channel engageable by the said one of said pair of spaced rollers which is on the bracket of said first panel,

and a third channel engageable by the said one of said pair of spaced rollers which is on the bracket of said third panel. 

1. Folding door apparatus comprising a pair of spaced, vertically disposed trackways, each trackway including a plurality of guide channels, a plurality of panels adapted for folding vertical movement along said trackways, horizontal hinge means connecting said plurality of panels together in accordion fashion with first and third panels hinged at their lower edges to upper edges of second and fourth panels, respectively, and with the second panel hinged at its lower edge to the third panel at its upper edge, fixed plate means on each side of said first and third panels adjacent the upper edge thereof, a pair of spaced rollers for each fixed plate means with one of said rollers cooperating with one of said guide channels and with another of said rollers cooperating with another of said guide channels for guiding movement therealong, one of said rollers being secured to an upper portion of its fixed plate means, a mounting bracket carried by a lower portion of each fixed plate means, the other of said rollers being secured to said mounting bracket, and a slidable and pivotal connection between said mounting bracket and its fixed plate means.
 2. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said slidable and pivotal connection includes slot means in said bracket and axle means fixed to its plate means and being received in said slot means.
 3. Folding door apparatus comprising a pair of spaced, vertically disposed trackways, a plurality of panels adapted for folding vertical movement along said trackways, horizontal hinge means connecting said plurality of panels together in accordion fashion with first and third panels hinged at their lower edges to upper edges of second and fourth panels, respectively, and with the second panel hinged at its lower edge to the third panel at its upper edge, plate means on each side of said first and third panels adjacent the upper edge thereof, a pair of spaced rollers on each plate means cooperating with said trackways for guiding movement therealong, a mounting bracket for one of said pair of spaced rollers, a slidable and pivotal connection between said bracket and its plate means, said slidable and pivotal connection including slot means in said bracket and axle means fixed to its plate means and being received in said slot means, and said slot means including a pair of spaced slots and said axle means including a pair of spaced axles, one for each slot.
 4. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein one of said slots is disposed at an acute angular relation to the other of said slots.
 5. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said spaced axles are disposed along a common longitudinal axis defined by a longitudinal axis of their corresponding plate means.
 6. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate means includes a plate element fixed to said first and third panels and having a sloping portion projecting beyond the upper edges thereof, and wherein each of said trackways includes a pair of spaced studs, one of said studs being engaged by the sloping portion of the plate element on said first panel and the other of said studs being engaged by the sloping portion of the plate element on said second panel.
 7. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the other of said pair of spaced rollers has an axle fixed to said plate element and wherein said axle and said pair of spaced axles are located on a common axis of said plate element with said common axis intersecting each of said axles.
 8. Folding door apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said trackways includes a first channel engageable by the other of said pair of spaced rollers, a second channel engagable by the said one of said pair of spaced rollers which is on the bracket of said first panel, and a third channel engagable by the said one of said pair of spaced rollers which is on the bracket of said third panel. 